Outgoing U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger?s wife has written an odd but apparently fascinating book about life as a Capitol Hill spouse. The Ballengers now have an odd living arrangement as separated spouses but close friends, eating breakfast together each morning at the Hickory home they still own and she now shares with her high-school sweetheart, who is Cass?s golfing buddy. There are many odd revelations in the book about themselves and the many celebrities they?ve gotten to know over the years, including Venezuela?s Hugo Chavez, who they?ve urged not to listen to Fidel Castro.

In a word, this story is odd. And it must be read.